Nov 10 How Social Security denied one woman the advice she deserved By Laurence Kotlikoff Larry Kotlikoff and former Social Security technical expert Jerry Lutz intervene on behalf of a disabled divorcée who was getting all the wrong answers from the Social Security offices in her area. Continue reading
Nov 05 How to plug holes in your Medicare coverage By Philip Moeller Basic Medicare only covers 80 percent of most covered medical services, and there's no ceiling on those co-payments. So where should seniors turn to help them pay for the rest of their care? Making Sen$e "Medicare Maven" Philip Moeller updates… Continue reading
Nov 03 4 Social Security tips for boomers who never married By Laurence Kotlikoff Much of Larry Kotlikoff's Social Security advice pertains to married couples or partners who are divorced, separated or widowed. But today, he speaks to those boomers who have never married, and tells them what they need to know should they… Continue reading
Oct 22 How to find a Medicare Part D drug plan online By Philip Moeller Medicare's prescription drug plans change what drugs they offer and how much they charge every year, with plans differing by geographic region. But just looking at premiums, which some drug-plan guides do, is not going to tell you much about… Continue reading
Oct 14 Can’t stand your spouse? Here’s a secret about collecting divorcée Social Security benefits By Laurence Kotlikoff You may not need to be married for the full 10 years usually required to collect divorcée Social Security benefits. With the help of former Social Security technical expert, Larry Kotlikoff explains how eight years could do the trick. Continue reading
Oct 06 You have your Social Security strategy all wrong By Laurence Kotlikoff Larry Kotlikoff explains that remarried retirees cannot collect spousal benefits from an ex-wife or ex-husband, and steers a couple away from a Social Security strategy that wouldn't have worked for them. Continue reading
Sep 29 What’s the cost of returning to work after taking Social Security early? By Laurence Kotlikoff Benefit reductions from the earnings test can wreak havoc on your budget, explains Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff, because they're not pro-rated. In other words, a retiree who has gone back to work to make ends meet after taking benefits… Continue reading
Sep 22 What all remarried newlyweds need to know about Social Security By Laurence Kotlikoff Don't assume your new spouse will automatically be eligible for a spousal benefit based on your Social Security record. Larry Kotlikoff advises a recently married couple, whose previous marriages both ended in divorce, how they can maximize their benefits. Continue reading
Sep 02 How one family can collect 8 different Social Security benefits By Laurence Kotlikoff Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff explains how a husband, wife and son could boost their $1 million lifetime Social Security benefits with a different collection strategy that adds one more benefit to the mix. Continue reading
Aug 25 Is my Social Security check fair? By Laurence Kotlikoff You've spent decades paying taxes on your earnings to fund your own Social Security benefit, but when your higher-earning spouse dies, you start receiving spousal benefits that wipe out your own, albeit smaller, retirement benefit. Is that a fair deal?… Continue reading